The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1887-03-05
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WY changes 81 Opinion Are NECESSARY to-
p 1Hii'i :ta4rue Mental Growth ;toi!;; 5st
- AigreatInlistak isloften made in ,slBi.
posing thab:consistency, requires g, n ~
form simplicity Men utter, opinions.
sor 1oice1i to, feelings honest tai and q,
sincere, and thus, worthy ofrespect, butt
time, bringing with it different oirculm;-: 8,
stances and different, experience, may
also bring, other standpoint, an and better be-
mental, ability; hence both thought and I'd
feelings may, undergo changes and be
no longer what they were in times
past. For. this people often blame
themselves, and are Blamed, charging
themselves and being charged with in
consistency. ''see how inconsistent
lie IS, for he said such and such things
last month "a or last year, 'il:is off,
en- heard in Condensation and
the offender is frequently sad and
ashamed, conscious that he must adj
init the charge. Sometimes also the
dread of being thus judged will u lead
men to conceal OF, nlisrepresent' their
real sentiments. The fear that they
may contradict something, they have
once uttered will keep them silent
when to speak is a duty, OF will Lead
them out of the path of traisg5htfor7-j
ward sincerity when tits most needed,
tHiwould be very much. to the b3ente7ttiltt. ,
of all concerned it it were rccog nize e j,
thattchange and consistency are by 2 no :,
means incompatible q The The. PRINCIPLE
Of life includes that Of growth, and all
growth, is, indi Gated by change. The
entire history, Of the plant, from the
tiny. seed swelling! il the, soil to the
full INSURANCE Of blossom 81: fruit, is
one Of change in growth and is thus;
and only thus, Il Consistent whole.
The life of the human body, from frail
infancy, to sturdy manhood, is 8, one c c(9
tinuous. series Of changes. each OF
which is needful for its Perfection ..,l =,
# this. be So. in all life, why should All
exception .tJiioi i e; made in the life Of the
mind and the hearth Certainly, if this
may not change, the very center Of all
life itself must be suspended. 1t will,
however, be conceded that the changes
of mental growth from early life to- MAJ
turity are rightful and needful. Every
one expects that the man will correct
and put away his childish errors and
follies; but that manhood and woman
hood should still change convictions,
altar opinions and have varied feelings
is still deemed inconsistent. Yetwho'
shall sci; the limits outside of which the
mind Of man shall ceaseto grow, and,
therefore, to changer Why should it
be natural. and consistent at one period
OF life and unnatural andIinconsist-
.ent at another? The truth is, that as
long as any one keeps himselfmentally;
alive and vigorous, he must change; that
is, he must discover new truths and
see old ones in new lights; and while
he faithfully preserves. whatever Of
value; he has gained, it will assume diff
feront forms in his sincerest and most
earnest thoughts. This, and not the
quiescent state Of mind that neither
changes nor grows, is true mental con. con,
sistency. r.... ..s..a...,.,. ......,...,t
It is quite true that all change is not
growth, that much Of it IS mere tickle
ness. weakness, restlessness. Some
minds yield TO every varying impulse
and influence, and are continually os-
cillating without making any steady
progress. They are inconsistent with
The law Of their being for they are
not struggling upward, but Simply hut-
tering in the wind. Another kind of
inconsistency, and one still more ON
mon, is that between theory and prac-
tice-tbeetween knowing land doing
There are, perhaps, none who, upon
reflection, would not. have to plead
guilty to this charge, In some, indeed,
the discrepancy'is SO great that all
perceive it, and are forced to esteem
them accordingly,Y while others are
only accused by their own consciences,
Philadelphia Ledger. 4t48nGsg., ~ !